By Zoila Palma: Data from the Ministry of Health and Wellness indicate that there are 37 medical doctors, 47 nurses, 8 technicians and two administrators – for a total of 94 Cuban medical professionals in Belize.
The Cuban medical brigade have long contributed to providing healthcare and making access to healthcare possible especially in rural communities across Belize.
But, the U.S. State Department has characterized these missions as “forced labor schemes” because the Cuban state retains such a high percentage of the earnings.
“Doctors sent abroad work under extremely restrictive agreements, with low wages and difficult conditions. While they generate income for the Cuban government through these agreements, the regime also has a chance to expand diplomatic relations. However, Cuban citizens are left lacking access to healthcare, with doctors on the island working under an over-stressed system with few resources,” the Harvard International Review explained.
During an interview with 7News Belize, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca said that the Government of Belize continues to weigh its options.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs work along with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to look at different options that may be available. Of course, our objectives is to maintain the Cuban doctors in Belize we have about 92 medical professional under the program. 45 of them are medical doctors they play a very critical role in our health system, especially in rural communities. So, we want to work and find a way of maintaining their presence in Belize so we are working, the ministry of health as I said and foreign affairs we are working on a plan and we are also in discussions with the Cuban government to see what options may be acceptable to them in terms of how we move forward,” Fonseca said.
Minister Fonseca noted that discussions are ongoing with the Cuban government.
“As you know we had an agreement and that agreement expired so it is in the context of some new arrangement, some new agreement that we are discussing these options and our objective is that hopefully that we can keep there presence here in Belize,” he added.
The post Government weighs options to keep Cuban doctors in country appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Data from the Ministry of Health and Wellness indicate that there are 37 medical doctors, 47 nurses, 8 technicians and two administrators – for a total of 94 Cuban medical professionals in Belize. The Cuban medical brigade have long contributed to providing healthcare and making access to healthcare possible especially in rural
The post Government weighs options to keep Cuban doctors in country appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
